Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
The author is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
